GFCI required?

[wyboy]

Is a mechanical room in a finished residential basement a non-habitable room and require GFCI protection for receptacles that serve circulation or boiler pumps according to NEC 210.8?

 

[480sparky]

If it's unfinished, yes.

 

[ty]

Is a mechanical room in a finished residential basement a non-habitable room and require GFCI protection for receptacles that serve circulation or boiler pumps according to NEC 210.8?

look at 210.52(G)

 

[480sparky]

look at 210.52(G)

Where does that address the GFI question?

 

[raider1]

IMHO a receptacle in a mechanical room in a finished basement does not require GFCI protection.

Chris

 

[iwire]

I think that regardless of what you call the space if it is a dwelling unit basement and is unfinished it needs GFCI protection. Call it the laundry room, the mechanical room, the play room, the looser sons bedroom, etc it is still basement.

 

[electricmanscott]

IMHO a receptacle in a mechanical room in a finished basement does not require GFCI protection.

Chris

If the mechanical room is unfinished GFCI protection is required regardless of condition of the rest of the basement.

210.8 A5

 

[ty]

Where does that address the GFI question?

...G(2)...each seperate unfinshed portion shall have a receptacle outlet installed in accordance with this section

210.8(A)(5)Unfinished Basements- ...yada yada yada...

 

[Riograndeelectric]

I think that regardless of what you call the space if it is a dwelling unit basement and is unfinished it needs GFCI protection. Call it the laundry room, the mechanical room, the play room, the looser sons bedroom, etc it is still basement.

what is classified as un finished?
IMO if its a laundry room , office, bedroom in the basement I could consider that finished. unfinished to me is bare concrete walls open ceiling joist. what is the IRC or IBC definition of unfinished basement

 

[iwire]

what is classified as un finished?
IMO if its a laundry room , office, bedroom in the basement I could consider that finished. unfinished to me is bare concrete walls open ceiling joist. what is the IRC or IBC definition of unfinished basement

I agree, but just because we call it a laundry room does not mean it is finished, it could still be bare floor, bare studs, bare ceiling etc.

 

[raider1]

If the mechanical room is unfinished GFCI protection is required regardless of condition of the rest of the basement.

210.8 A5

I agree, but what determines an unfinished mechanical room?

The building codes do not require a mechanical room to be sheetrocked, painted or have any other floor coverings than the raw concrete.

Chris

 

[iwire]

I agree, but what determines an unfinished mechanical room?

The building codes do not require a mechanical room to be sheetrocked, painted or have any other floor coverings than the raw concrete.

Chris

IMO, lack of floor and wall finishes even when not required means it is an unfinished room.

I take 'unfinished' to mean no wall , floor or ceiling 'finish' I do not believe they mean 'incomplete' as in a work in progress.

 

[charlie b]

I agree, but what determines an unfinished mechanical room?

Not relevant. The question is, "what determines an unfinished basement (or portion thereof)"?

IMO, lack of floor and wall finishes even when not required means it is an unfinished room.

That is not how the code defines it. The phrase "unfinished basement" is defined as being not intended to be habitable and being limited to storage or a work area.

We were not told what exactly is located in the area under discussion. I infer that we are talking about a multi-family dwelling unit, and that the room has the central air conditioning system or similar equipment. Such a room would not be intended to be habitable. Such a room could be used for storage or as a work area. That brings 210.8(A)(5) into play, and thus GFCI protection would be required for any receptacles in the area.

 

[raider1]

IMO, lack of floor and wall finishes even when not required means it is an unfinished room.

I take 'unfinished' to mean no wall , floor or ceiling 'finish' I do not believe they mean 'incomplete' as in a work in progress.

I see that I am getting 210.8(A)(5) and 210.52(G) mixed up as far as "Unfinished" is concerned.

I can see where a basement mechanical room can be considered a "similar area" to a work area or storage area for purposes of 210.8(A)(5).

Chris

 

[jwjrw]

Is an office in a house with a window and a closet a bedroom or an office? Around here its a bedroom even if it says office on plans. In 210.8 it spells out what unfinished means.

 

[Regularkevin]

This topic got derailed real quick.

Is a mechanical room in a finished residential basement a non-habitable room and require GFCI protection for receptacles that serve circulation or boiler pumps according to NEC 210.8?

Perhaps we should explore 210.63?

 

[480sparky]

...........Perhaps we should explore 210.63?

Perhaps we should just install a GFCI and color it done.

 

[jwjrw]

I say it needs gfi due to the space being intended to be non habitable.

 

[electricmanscott]

This topic got derailed real quick.



Perhaps we should explore 210.63?

Perhaps you can tell us what that has to do with the derailed topic.

 

[electricmanscott]

IMO, lack of floor and wall finishes even when not required means it is an unfinished room.

I take 'unfinished' to mean no wall , floor or ceiling 'finish' I do not believe they mean 'incomplete' as in a work in progress.

In general I'd say this is one of those "I know it when I see it" deals.